!melk landscape architecture & urban design

Set in a hidden valley and nestled between the mountains, Desert Rock - part of the Red Sea regional development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - is now open and we’re super excited about this! Working with the language of the site’s geology, !melk designed a cohesive visitor experience consisting of journeys and a variety of spaces that instigate wider site exploration, adventure, and discovery, introducing guests to all of the cultural, archeological, and geological dimensions of this awe-inspiring place. A bespoke pavement strategy as well as a native planting palette subtly integrated into the design, along with landscape architectural interventions reinforce a singular identity for this place. A key feature of the site is the Southern Wadi, and in anticipation of future conditions, !melk investigated and developed a seasonal strategy for wadi management. In sheer contrast to the wadi are the spaces located within crevices and caves, or on shaded slopes. Inspired by ancient vernacular and building techniques that utilized the cooler microclimates and minimizing solar gain, a variety of discrete spaces are dispersed across the natural site. Great collaboration with our friends at Oppenheim Architecture and our client Red Sea Global ! Desert Rock defines the new frontier for sustainability and sustainable tourism on every level - across planning, design, and operation. All materiality selections are sourced directly from the site, so that construction impact is minimal. The project is poised to serve as a benchmark for hospitality development in the region, undoubtedly delivering an internationally recognized destination.

Pier 57 wins 2024 MASterworks Award for Best Adaptive Reuse!!!! !melk was responsible for the design of Pier 57’s Esplanade and of course the Rooftop Park, which is also the largest Rooftop Park in New York! If you haven’t visited it yet, please do so! Pier 57 has a wonderful Food Market on the ground floor, that offers a wide variety or amazing food that you can take up to eat in our park - picnic style (!) - while enjoying the most amazing views!!! Our favorite moment of the day is the golden hour when the daytime transitions into nighttime! 🌅🌆🔥 #teamwork The Municipal Art Society of New York

Meanwhile in Shenzhen, China…. Our Prince Bay Waterfront Park and Promenade is nearing completion! Check out this drone video that our (happy) Client made! To be precise, the project is located in Shenzhen’s Shekou area, which is a very prominent brand new super modern mixed-use area - it is where the ferry terminal is (to and from Hong Kong as well as other places along the bay). The !melk-designed Waterfront Park and Promenade is directly flanked by the new K11 Cultural Mall (designed by OMA), and the new “Kunst” Museum (designed by David Chipperfield Architects), and connects to a residential district and the Ferry landing. All coming online soon - we can’t wait to see the place in action!

Our Pier 97 is receiving a whole-lot-of Media coverage!!!! Check out the article in W42ST about last week’s ribbon cutting event!

Even MORE coverage in the media of our Pier 97 that had its ribbon cutting ceremony this past Tuesday! Check out this clip on MSNBC! Amazing achievement by the team here at !melk - and all our collaborators!

Our brand new Pier 97 Waterfront Park catching more media attention! Here’s a clip from Pix11 TV News - quote: “… the City’s Waterfront just got a Whole Lot Better…”!!!

Our Pier 97 is getting A LOT of press coverage!!! Check out this feature on “New York’s Latest Oasis” on ABC Network’s Eyewitness News!

We did it! Pier 97 is officially OPEN! Starting in 2018 with a rigorous program of community engagement and unanimous community board support, !melk landscape architecture & urban design is pleased to announce the completion of New York City’s newest waterfront destination and urban park!! 🍾💥 Countless hours of effort and meticulous attention to detail have brought our vision to reality and we are truly proud to have yet another !melk-designed iconic landscape here in New York City. To quote Deputy Mayor Joshi, “[Pier 97] is a mix of creativity and architectural genius.” And as stated by our friend and longtime client Noreen Doyle, CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust, “Nothing in this Park is bland… the mission was accomplished!” Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged that “New York City’s waterfront is undergoing a major transformation with the grand opening of Pier 97, a stunning new green oasis for our residents.” MCB4 Chair Jessica Chait called the Pier 97 park “a jewel in the crown of New York City.” We are so very pleased at the overwhelmingly positive reception our design has received, and elated that so many in the nearby community now have a proper place of respite from the hectics of our great City. We hope all New Yorkers come to visit and fall in love with it as well! Special thanks to our many elected officials who attended Tuesday’s inauguration and to the board and leadership of the Hudson River Park Trust.

Exciting!!! Our Pier 97 along the Hudson River opens to the public next week!!!

Looking goooood! The !melk-designed Waterfront of Prince Bay (Tai Zi Wan) in Shenzhen is under construction! Once finished, our Waterfront Promenade and Park will function as the main open space for one of the most ambitious mixed-use developments in China. The Shekou neighborhood - where the project is located - is where one arrives in Shenzhen when taking the ferry from Hong Kong. Adjacent to our project is are buildings designed by OMA (the K11 Culture Mall) and David Chipperfield Architects (the KUNST Museum). A new !melk project - a new urban destination - a new statement for coastal resiliency!